Commentary

OP/ED: MLA Conroy looks ahead
by Katrine Conroy on Jun 16 2013 - 4:46pm

This week I travelled to Victoria to be sworn in as MLA and I wanted to say a heartfelt thank you to the people of Kootenay West for my re-election. I am honored and I will do my very best to represent all constituents and take the concerns of this area to Victoria and the Legislature.

I will be an active member of the Official Opposition Caucus and in that role I have a duty to question Government and to make sure that my constituent’s views are heard. I take this responsibility seriously and will continue to do so.  My new critic position within the Opposition caucus will be Seniors and Seniors Health and also critic responsible for the Columbia River Treaty, Columbia Power and Columbia Basin Trust.

Letters to the Editor

LETTER: An open letter to Rossland city councillors

LETTER: An open letter to Rossland city councillors

Dear Rossland City Councilors,

I am baffled by the Mayor calling a public meeting and then having nothing specific to say.  He acknowledges  that “mistakes were made” but can’t say what they were. He says there have been changes but can’t identify any specifically.

Most outrageously, he continues to say that there is no evidence of illegality, in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

LETTER: Mayor’s claims of closure ring hollow

LETTER: Mayor’s claims of closure ring hollow

Dear editor,

At the meeting in the Seniors’ Centre last Thursday, the Mayor claimed that a comprehensive audit of the Arena contracts awarded to the former building inspectors company had been done. He said many times that he doesn’t see the need for a more comprehensive investigation.

LETTER: Does the mayor have the trust of Rosslanders?

LETTER: Does the mayor have the trust of Rosslanders?

Dear editor,

I am a consultant with a doctoral degree in leadership and a keen interest in the importance of trust in organizations. More importantly, I am a resident of Rossland and, like many others, implicitly trust my elected officials to do be reliable stewards of our affairs. Acting on behalf of others requires openness and accountability—both important aspects of trust.

LETTER: A modest proposal for the BC Liberals, the Ministry of Education, and SD20

LETTER: A modest proposal for the BC Liberals, the Ministry of Education, and SD20

Dear madames/sirs,

Nobody can deny that our government needs to focus on the citizens that count. We cannot continue to spend money on education, health care and social services while the population using those services are barely  paying into the tax base. Less than 3% of children and teens attending school earn an income, while the injured, sick and elderly lying about in hospitals are certainly not contributing to the workforce.

LETTER: In remembering war let us envision peace

LETTER: In remembering war let us envision peace

To the Editor;

This poem was written by Nicholas Peters just after the outbreak of World War II in 1939. Peters, who lived for some years at Grande Pointe, Manitoba, Canada, had emigrated from Russia in 1925 as a boy of 10 and had seen firsthand the horrors of revolution and war in his native country.

He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1942 and trained as a flying officer. He died on the night of March 7 - 8, 1945 after his aircraft was hit by enemy fire. The poem is from a collection of Peters' work entitled Another Morn.

LETTER: Dreaming of a future for the Mountain Kingdom

LETTER: Dreaming of a future for the Mountain Kingdom

Dear editor,

I attended a workshop in Trail over the last couple days called “Heart-Mind Inquiry”.  The purpose was to create positive change in our communities, with a focus on building compassion in kids. 

As part of the process, we were asked to dream five years into the future.  I don’t usually DO creative writing, but once in a while....

The Dream: Rossland, RSS, Red, Eclipses, &Bullying

LETTER: Rossland needs curlers!

LETTER: Rossland needs curlers!

Dear editor,

Our gorgeous long fall has kept our mind from winter sports, but the curling season is just around the corner.  The Rossland Curling Clubs are looking for new or experienced curlers for all evenings.

Curling is a fun and inexpensive, social winter sport.  For less than $150 you get over 15 games from November through March.  The equipment is as simple as a pair of very clean shoes and a used curling broom, but a new broom and your own slider can be purchased at local stores for about $60.

LETTER: Fortis replies to gas marketer letter

LETTER: Fortis replies to gas marketer letter

Dear Editor,

This is a response to one of your readers expressing concerns regarding the Customer Choice program and the role of gas marketers.

LETTER: Fortis came in like a Lamb but turning out to be a Lion

LETTER: Fortis came in like a Lamb but turning out to be a Lion

Dear editor,

The nice friendly community power company that bought-out West Kootenay Power is showing us a different side. They are walking out on the City of Trail without even saying good bye. The city of Penticton is looking for alternate power sources as Fortis is too expensive.

LETTER: Don't be taken in - gas marketers in town

LETTER: Don't be taken in - gas marketers in town

To the Editor:

A colorfully dressed man named Raad and his associate were making calls on people’s homes in the 7000 block of 18th Street in Grand Forks last week. When he called on my uncle he said that he was “with the Access people and was there to protect buyers from rising gas prices.”

He said he could give him a guaranteed rated for the next five years. My uncle was skeptical but found the man to be assertive that he knew what he was doing and was very positive about his “good company.”